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Method and device for capturing and processing graphical information

  • US 5,717,168 A
  • Filed: 06/22/1995
  • Issued: 02/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of capturing and processing graphical data representative of a trace made on a surface of a neutral support by means of a tip of an instrument, comprising the steps of:

  • emitting a plurality of ultrasound pulses by means of at least two ultrasound wave emitters carried by the instrument and spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the instrument, and substantially aligned with the tip of the instrument,receiving the ultrasound pulses by several ultrasound wave receivers occupying positions determined with respect to the support, such that ultrasound pulses emitted from any point on the surface are received by more than two receivers,measuring a plurality of propagation times of the ultrasound pulses between each of the emitters and receivers,evaluating, from the measured propagation times, a plurality of coordinates of at least one vector defined by the positions of the two emitters carried by the instrument,determining, from the evaluation of the coordinates of the vector, a position of the tip of the instrument on the support, and at least one of two instrument orientation cues consisting of an inclination of the longitudinal direction of the instrument with respect to the support and an angular position of the instrument about an axis making a predetermined angle with respect to the support,detecting a pressure exerted on the support by the tip of the instrument,transmitting a cue representative of the detected pressure anddetermining, as a function of at least one of the orientation and pressure cues, a stroke width cue, so as to associate a cue representing the position of the tip of the instrument with a cue representing the stroke width for the position of the tip of the instrument.

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